Warning to motorists over icy conditions

Drivers are being warned to be on their guard as widespread freezing fog and icy conditions descend on the UK.

Large swathes of the country are expected to experience adverse weather after one of the coldest nights of the year so far last night.

Temperatures are expected to plunge across the Westcountry today with sleet and snow forecast in parts overnight tonight although much of that is expected to turn to rain in the far South West by dawn tomorrow.

For many parts of the region today it is forecast to be a bright and breezy day with spells of sunshine and patchy cloud.

There may be the odd isolated wintry shower towards the coast.

The maximum temperature is expected to be about 3-6C (37-43F) during the day but getting colder at night.

Julian Mayes, forecaster for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said that some areas could be hit by fog.

He said: "The fog is currently pretty widespread.

"Through the night it's going to return to Somerset and become a bit more widespread in valleys across Wales."

Many areas of the country have already been covered by a blanket of thick fog including the Midlands, most of East Anglia, the area north of London, Bristol and parts of central southern England.